You know how when you have a new recipe you really, really like, you want to keep serving it all of the time? Or, at least you want to tell people about it?

Well, I recently discovered a perfect summer side dish that is so good, and so easy to make, that I thought I would share it. Also, I want to ask you all if you have any “keeper” recipes you wouldn’t mind sharing with us… preferable easy to make, without a whole grocery list of ingredients.

Last summer, I bought this Weight Watchers Five Ingredient 15 Minute Recipes magazine, and found a few “keeper” recipes. This recipe has become a favorite of our’s. (It’s on page 7 of the magazine, which says “Display until 8/12/11” on the front. – While searching for information about this magazine, I found that there are many different editions, so I went ahead and posted the picture of the specific magazine I am talking about. It is published by Oxmoor House.)

Grilled Corn, Red Peppers, and Onions
PointsPlus value per serving: 3
Prep: 6 minutes    Cook: 15 minutes

2 large ears shucked corn
1 large red bell pepper, cut in half and seeded
1 medium-size sweet onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
Butter-flavored cooking spray
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (*I use coarse pepper)

1. Prepare grill. Coat first 3 ingredients heavily with cooking spray. Place vegetables on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. (*Obviously, the cooking spray on the grill has to be sprayed on before starting up the grill.)

2  Cut kernels from corn to yield 3 cups; place in medium bowl. Cut pepper and onion into 1-inch pieces; add to corn. Add oil and remaining ingredients; toss well.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups).

Per Serving: Calories 117, Fat 4.6 g (sat 0.7, mono 2.9g, poly 0.6g); Protein 2.8 g; Carb 18.3 g; Fiber 2.6g; Chol 0mg; Iron 0.7mg; Sodium 164 mg; Calc 21mg

 *I actually double the recipe so that I can serve it again – cold. Also, I haven’t figured out a way to cut the kernels off the corn in a “comfortable” way. That cob is hot!

If any of you have a recipe (preferable easy!) that is a “keeper” in your household you wouldn’t mind telling us about, feel free to post it in a comment. Thanks!

Bon appétit!

Happy Memorial Day to all of you in the USA.

It is a time for us to remember those brave people who died while serving in the armed forces. I am guessing that most of us take this very special day/weekend to also remember those we loved – who are no longer with us.

It is also a time to think about those who are currently in the armed forces, and to thank them for the many sacrifices they make for all of us.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you… whether you are mothers, daughters, husbands, or sons. 

From my window, I can see a lot of little mother birds teaching their fledglings how to land on a given perch (or even how to push the other little birds away from the bird feeder!) and I am made aware of how many different mothers there are all around us.

Again, I digress…

Happy Mother’s Day to ALL. 

I am currently looking out my window, watching a Black-chinned Hummingbird at one of my feeders. These little guys are so cute to view, I only wish we had more of them around here.

Our backyard is again full of little, tiny fledglings. Some of them seem to be so clueless, that I wish I could go outside and teach them how to use the two bird feeders. I know that nature has a way of teaching them, but it is a little frustrating to see them try to feed from the plastic sides of the feeders.

This brings me to the real reason for this entry. I just want to make sure that all of you have a chance to watch some truly amazing birds grow up, before leaving their nests.

A few days ago, Denise posted a comment telling us about this site:

“… I know alot of us like birds and so I thought I would share this. http://www.allaboutbirds.org has a camera with a live feed on a pair of red tail hawks and their babies at Cornell . My first graders have been fascinated to see the parents nest sitting, seeing the little hatchlings, feeding time (dad brought a small mouse one day) etc.. Pretty cool.”

Thank you, AND you’re right, Denise, “Pretty cool.”

As I usually do, I have gone overboard watching all of these little nestlings. I am not only watching the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Red-tailed Hawk nest, but I am also watching their Great Blue Heron Nest, as well as their Eastern Bluebird Nest.

All four of these live cams are truly incredible, and if you want to spend some time with nature, in the comfort of your air-conditioned home, then you might want to give these wonderful sites a try.